LG Electronics has officially begun the process to expand its washing machine plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, as U.S. manufacturing gains renewed importance under the second Trump administration. In response to potential tariffs on appliances imported from Mexico, the company is preparing to expand its production beyond washing machines to include other home appliances.
According to documents submitted by LG Electronics to the Clarksville Regional Planning Commission on April 11, the company plans to build new manufacturing and warehouse facilities adjacent to its current plant. The proposal, dubbed “LG Tennessee Phase 2,” will be reviewed during the commission’s upcoming meeting on April 22.
The expansion project involves constructing a facility covering approximately 600,000 square feet on a 310-acre site. If the plan receives swift approval, LG intends to begin with warehouse construction and gradually add production lines for refrigerators, ovens, and other appliances.
LG Electronics CEO William Cho previously stated that the company had proactively prepared the site to respond quickly if the U.S. imposes tariffs on products from Mexico. “We’ve already completed site preparations and temporary structures, so we can act without delay once the policy takes effect,” he said following a shareholders’ meeting last month.
The expansion reflects LG’s strategy to strengthen its U.S. manufacturing footprint as a key asset. Growing trade uncertainties-especially the risk of new tariffs under the Trump administration-have prompted the company to consider converting its Tennessee facility into a multi-product plant. This approach not only offers flexibility in addressing trade regulations such as safeguard measures, but also supports LG’s broader goal of localizing its supply chain for the North American market.
LG originally broke ground on the Tennessee plant in August 2018 and began operations in May 2019. The facility spans 309 acres with a total floor space of 828,820 square feet. It required an investment of $360 million and operates two production lines capable of producing 1.2 million washing machines annually. In 2021, LG invested an additional $20.5 million to expand the facility, creating 334 new jobs.
